"I only lifted my ass and half of the bunch was screaming my name that I was going" - No chance for Thymen Arensman to enter Giro d'Italia breakaways
Cycling
Thymen Arensman had a very difficult start to the Giro d'Italia but he is 'back', according to his own words. The Dutch rider looked back to his best in the Prati di Tivo summit finish and played a role in the conservative final climb.
“Everybody in the team kept believing in me and they were right, I’m back," Arensman said in words to GCN. “I just had two bad days in the beginning and now I am back, the team always kept believing in me and it paid off."
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INEOS Grenadiers had an aggressive strategy for the day planned, with a few riders joining the day's breakaway: “We had Johnny [Narváez] and Magnus [Sheffield] in the break, we wanted to have two guys in the break and then if it was really carnage and full gas then I could have a look."
Part of the plan was also to launch Arensman on an attack but it didn't quite work out, as it turned out he was being heavily marked: "But I only lifted my ass and half of the bunch was screaming my name that I was going. It’s good to know, I will take it as a compliment I guess." Hence he remained in the peloton, ultimately crossing the line in eighth place, 11 seconds down on uncontested stage winner Tadej Pogacar.
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“UAE kept it really close, chapeau to them, they were strong. We knew that it was for the GC favourites for the stage and I feel better and better, so it was nice to be in the mix and be there with G (Geraint Thomas, ed.)," he added. "I missed a bit on the punch to the line but I know that for myself and I will only get better I guess.”
“We are still here to win the race, you know everything can happen, the Giro is long. So a podium is nice but I think we’re here just to win the race, so I am happy to sacrifice my GC for G to win, for example.”
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
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santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
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Really nice work from @GeraintThomas86 to come home fifth atop Prati di Tivo at the #Giro 👊 @ThymenArensman did a brilliant job in the closing stages to maintain a tempo on the front, finishing eighth 👏
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